Hundreds of options with just a few control settings
The Distressor lets you add 2nd or 3rd order harmonic distortion to the signal, emulating tape saturation and the classic tube compressor sound of the 1960s and '70s. It also offers advanced sidechain EQ, eight unique curves, and Empirical Labs' exclusive "Binary Stepped Interface," providing hundreds of options with just a few control settings. Beyond its broad control and feature set, the Distressor's custom-designed gain control circuit delivers a warm vintage-flavored sound that is the perfect Rx for the unforgiving nature of modern digital recording. When you consider that the tube equipment, analog tape, and vinyl records of yesteryear could not help but color sound (often to the chagrin of recording engineers), the Distressor offers the best of both worlds: selective, controllable coloration.